“I believe my time in SEPULTURA has come to an end,” Igor said in the statement. “I have a lot of pride in everything we have done, but I feel that the group’s current formation does not meet my expectations as a musician and a person. Since my last tour with SEPULTURA, which took place in Europe in December 2004, I have sensed that my ideas were not compatible with those of the rest of the band.

“I would really like to thank all of the fans that supported me and continue supporting our music. I would also like to thank everybody that worked to make SEPULTURA the band that it had become.”

Igor announced earlier in the year that he was taking a break from the group’s touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their new son (who was born in January). Filling in on drums during the band’s European tour with IN FLAMES was Mayorga, who played with Igor‘s brother Max in SOULFLY for several years in the late ’90s and again in 2001-2003.

Igor is the second Cavalera it leave SEPULTURA. In 1996, Max Cavalera exited the group after the rest of the band fired Max‘s wife Gloria as SEPULTURA‘s manager.

SEPULTURA are rumored to have selected Jean Dolabella (ex-UDORA) as their new permanent drummer following Roy Mayorga‘s decision to join STONE SOUR as a full-time member.